Nam Joo-hyuk's renaissance: moving from 20s to 30s

The transition from one’s 20s to 30s is rarely seamless, but for Nam Joo-hyuk, it represents a chance to redefine himself. His 20s were marked by a rapid ascent as one of South Korea's most recognizable youth stars, endearing himself to audiences through a string of popular romantic comedies and coming-of-age dramas. Now entering his 30s and returning from his military service hiatus, the actor is ready to begin a new phase of his career. Netflix's upcoming tentpole series "The East Palace" is b

2026-07-24 09:00:00:00

Devsisters brings Korea's World Heritage to life through CookieRun campaign

Devsisters, the company behind the popular mobile gaming CookieRun franchise, has launched the "K-Heritage with CookieRun" campaign in partnership with the Korea Heritage Service to commemorate the 48th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee, currently being held in Busan. The campaign, which runs through July 29, aims to promote Korea's World Heritage sites to domestic and international audiences through the distinctive visual style of CookieRun. As part of the exhibition, Devsisters is

2026-07-22 13:49:25:00

CJ ENM lands 12 nominations at ContentAsia Awards

CJ ENM has secured 12 nominations across seven categories at the 2026 ContentAsia Awards, the Korean entertainment company said Wednesday. Organized by media platform ContentAsia, the awards recognize content and creative talent from across the Asia-Pacific region. Winners will be announced August 27 in Bangkok. In the drama categories, Studio Dragon-produced "Bon Appetit, Your Majesty" and Tving original "Dear X" were nominated for best drama series made in Asia for a regional or international

2026-07-22 11:52:11:00

South Korea’s gaming giants bet on global talent

South Korean gaming companies are increasingly turning to overseas talent and executives as they look to expand beyond a domestic market that has become both saturated and increasingly challenging. Gravity, the Korean game developer and publisher best known for its global hit massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG) "Ragnarok Online," said July 13 that it has shifted to a co-CEO structure, appointing Park Hyun-chul and Yoshinori Kitamura to jointly lead the company. Founded in 200

2026-07-21 15:46:19:00

A real-life 'Her'? Korea launches first dating reality show with AI partners

South Korea's next dating reality series poses a bold question: Can humans actually fall in love with partners generated through artificial intelligence? "My AI Partner: Strange Romance," produced by SBS and premiering in August, follows contestants' emotional highs and lows as they step into an AI-crafted universe and connect with AI "partners." According to SBS, the series aims to investigate whether humans can "fall in love with AI," and how the technology processes human emotions. “The other

2026-07-21 14:17:14:00

Will 'A Shop for Killers' 2 find room to shine amid K-action drama boom?

The action genre has become one of Korean television's hottest exports since "A Shop for Killers" debuted in 2024. But the Disney+ hit returns for a second season to a marketplace crowded with globally successful action titles led by "Teach You a Lesson" and "Agent Kim Reactivated," leaving some questioning whether it can stand out once again. "A Shop for Killers" follows Ji-an (Kim Hye-jun), a teen targeted by lethal mercenaries after the mysterious death of her uncle, Jin-man (Lee Dong-wook).

2026-07-20 14:51:13:00

When heritage meets pop culture: K-gaming

One of the unlikeliest corners of Korean pop culture embracing the country's traditional arts is the gaming industry. Some of the country's biggest game franchises, including PUBG: Battlegrounds and CookieRun, are increasingly pairing their best-known intellectual properties with centuries-old Korean crafts, creating collaborations that extend beyond the screen. Industry observers say the partnerships have become a two-way exchange. While game studios introduce traditional crafts to audiences wh

2026-07-18 16:00:00:00

When heritage meets pop culture: K-drama

Korean tradition is having a moment, with a growing number of K-dramas turning the country's cultural heritage into one of their biggest selling points for global audiences. Leading the charge in the first half of 2026 is MBC's "Perfect Crown," a fictional 21st-century constitutional monarchy drama starring Hallyu heavyweights IU and Byeon Woo-seok as Hui-ju and Crown Prince I-an, respectively. Since its April premiere, the series has driven global conversation through its avant-garde reinterpre

2026-07-17 09:00:00:00

Korean teams advance at Esports World Cup, Faker named ambassador

South Korean League of Legends teams swept the 2026 Esports World Cup, as Gen.G Esports, T1 and Hanwha Life Esports advanced to the tournament's upper bracket after winning their opening group-stage matches for LoL. Gen.G secured a spot in the upper bracket by defeating France's Karmine Corp in the Group B opener on Wednesday. T1, competing in Group C, followed with a 32-minute victory over Vietnam's Gam Esports and Group D's Hanwha Life Esports, fresh off its Mid-Season Invitational title, disp

2026-07-16 16:35:45:00

Gong Yoo plans first-ever Asia fan meeting tour

Actor Gong Yoo is set to embark on his first-ever Asia fan meeting tour since his debut in 2001. His agency, Management Soop, announced Thursday that the 2026 Gong Yoo Asia Fan Meeting Tour: The Long Take will kick off in Yokohama, Japan, on Oct. 4. Billed as the actor's first Asia-wide fan meeting tour, the event will reflect on Gong Yoo's journey while highlighting his past, present and future. Following the Yokohama opener, the actor will travel to Bangkok on Oct. 10, Jakarta on Oct. 17, Maca

2026-07-16 14:41:41:00